Gordon Brown under pressure over 'reward' for Keith Vaz over terror bill

Gordon Brown is under pressure to reveal whether Keith Vaz, the influential
head of a Parliamentary Committee, has been offered a peerage or honour in
return for backing the Government’s controversial counter-terrorism measures.

Keith Vaz was originally opposed to the proposed counter-terrorism measures but later offered his full backingPhoto: HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY

By Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor

11:34AM BST 02 Jul 2008

The Daily Telegraph has seen a private letter sent by chief whip Geoff Hoon to Mr Vaz expressing an expectation that his former ministerial colleague will be “appropriately rewarded” for backing the measure to hold terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge.

Mr Vaz is the Labour chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee. He was previously opposed to the plans but later offered his full backing. He made a major speech during the debate on the proposals which is thought to have won over some backbench MPs. Securing his backing was seen as crucial by the Government.

Amid rumours of a peerage or knighthood, Mr Vaz was asked in Parliament during the debate the day before the vote whether he had been offered an honour for his support. He said: “No, it was certainly not offered—but I do not know; there is still time.”

In the handwritten letter sent on 12th June 2008 – the day after the key vote - Mr Hoon writes: “Dear Keith…Just a quick note to thank you for all your help during the period leading up to last Wednesday’s vote. I wanted you to know how much I appreciated all your help.”

“I trust that it will be appropriately rewarded!...With thanks and best wishes, Geoff.”

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The Prime Minister has been accused of offering rebel backbenchers a series of deals in exchange of their votes but the chief whip’s letter may provide the first hard evidence that rewards were potentially available to those supportive of the plans.

Mr Brown won the key vote by just nine votes after securing the support of the Democratic Unionist Party. Shadow Home Secretary David Davis resigned and accused the Prime Minister of debasing Parliament in the way the legislation was pushed through.